His father drives a mechanised van to ferry paddy to the market. His home in Gosaba village did not have electricity till a few months ago and Animesh Bhunia had to study in candlelight whenever he went home from his hostel.

The student of Debnagar Mokshoda Dinda Higher Secondary School in Namkhana has notched up 95.2 per cent in the Higher Secondary examinations. His scores: 94 in first language, 96 in second language, 95 in chemistry, 99 in maths and 95 in physics.

Animesh studied at Satyanarayan Pur Sb High School in Gosaba till Class X but shifted to a school in Namkhana provides free coaching and hostel facility for Plus-II.

“The school I passed Madhyamik from did not have a science section. Neither did the other schools nearby,” Animesh said.

Animesh Bhunia Telegraph picture

Animesh has appeared for the JEE-advanced test for admission to IIT but is not sure whether he can study engineering even if he cracks the test. “Studying engineering won’t be easy for me, given our financial background,” he said.

Father Ramesh Bhunia said the family’s monthly income is about Rs 4,000. “Till Madhyamik, we could not help him with any private tutor. He managed on his own and topped from his school. His teachers helped with suggestion books,” Ramesh said. The family lives in a mud hut with an asbestos roof.

When in the village, Animesh would accompany his father to the field during harvest season. “Before going to the school, I would go with my father to the field. At times, I also helped him stack the paddy and load it on the van,” he said.

Animesh is now preparing for the physics admission test at Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur.

“I can manage the cost of studying there. I am also considering Jadavpur University. I have heard that it is easier for students like us to study in a state-aided university,” said the boy who wants to do PhD in physics.